Nationaal Glasmuseum

Om museet

The museum was founded in 1953, forty years after P. M. Cochius took over the management of the Leerdam glass factory. Cochius wanted to bring affordable, well-designed glass to the market instead of characterless mass-produced ware, and in 1915 he brought in the architect K. P. C. de Bazel; a long series of renowned artists and designers followed. The factory thus gave rise to the “Leerdam” brand, which still stands for both the town and glass today. The museum moved into Cochius’s residence, just a few steps from the factory.

The neighbouring villa, where co-director Bunge lived, was acquired in 2009 for the necessary expansion; the two dike villas on the Linge are connected by bridges. More than 60 percent of the collection comes from the production of the Leerdam glass factory since 1878, including designs by De Bazel, Berlage, Copier, Lanooij and Gidding. In addition there is crystal from the Kristalunie Maastricht and the Glashuis Muller, contemporary Dutch studio glass from the pioneers of the 1960s and 1970s to the present generation, and a smaller group of foreign and antique glass.

Alongside the objects, the museum holds a library with a documentation centre, which also houses design drawings and sales catalogues of the Dutch glass factories; tens of thousands of drawings have been digitised. The Nationaal Glasmuseum is regarded as the authority on Leerdam and Dutch glass from about 1850 to the present and sees itself as a driving force for the future of Dutch glass. The collection is permanently on view in the “Transparant Depot”; the museum also includes the glassblowing workshop in the town centre.

Højdepunkter

• Leerdam factory glass, including designs by De Bazel, Berlage and Copier
• Contemporary Dutch studio glass
• Collection in the open storage “Transparant Depot” in two connected dike villas
• Glassblowing workshop in town with grandstand, restaurant and Glaslab (combination ticket)
• Museum café and garden on the Linge

Permanent udstilling

• Sammlung im Transparant Depot – The museum’s collection is permanently on view in the open storage, with Leerdam factory glass, designs by well-known designers and Dutch studio glass.

Grundlagt

1953

Ledelse

Arnoud Odding

Entrépriser & rabatter

Free admission with the Museumkaart, VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART, Rembrandtkaart and ICOM card. Tickets are available at the ticket desk. Museumkaarten are available in both shops.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator
• Handicaptoilet: ingen oplysninger
• Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

The museum consists of two historic dike villas with four floors; the lift holds only one wheelchair with a companion or two people with rollators. The listed building is less suitable for scooters and large electric wheelchairs; please get in touch in advance. A wheelchair with push handles is available at both sites. The glassblowing workshop is at ground level; at the grandstand a maximum of three wheelchairs or eight rollators are allowed at the same time, and there is an induction loop. Only certified assistance dogs are allowed. Holders of a disabled parking permit park free of charge (with a parking disc).

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn

For small children there is a bingo and discovery tour; children can submit their own glass designs, and one per quarter is made by the glassblower. According to the museum, the glassblowing workshop is an experience for every age.

Transport & parkering

The two sites are about a 20-minute walk or a 10-minute drive apart; the museum is west of the centre.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumsbutik

Museum café with 20 seats and a garden (self-service, pay what you think fair; groups should register in advance). In the glassblowing workshop, the restaurant De Houtloods with around 50 seats for lunch, drinks and dinner. Museum shop and web shop.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer

The museum and the glassblowing workshop can be hired after closing for private events; enquiries by email.

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